Combination piano-tuning hammer.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

} 0. P. DOLAN. COMBINATION PIANO TUNING HAMMER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 26, 1907.

Ewe/r6657 amazes-Rim? CHARLES P. DOLAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINATION PIANO-TUNIN G HAMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 26, 1907. Serial No. 394,608.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAELEs P. DOLAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston,in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Combination Piano-Tuning Hammers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel and convenient piano tuning hammer so constructed that it may be used as an ordinary tuning hammer or as a T-hammer, as may be necessary, both tools being combined in one structure and obviating the expense and inconvenience of having two separate hammers.

In addition to the general structure of the hammer as above set forth, I have also provided several novel features whereby the operation of the tool is greatly improved.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is mainly a longitudinal sectional view of a combination tuning hammer, when used as an ordinary tuning hammer; Fig. 2 is a partial section and elevation of my invention ready for use as a T-hammer; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3-4), Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is and end view of the clutch on the hammer head shown in Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment of my invention I make a two-part, separable handle comprising members A and B, Fig.1, the member B having a strong metallic core I) provided at one end with a threaded socket said member B having a transverse socket b substantially midway between its ends and extended through the core, the walls of the socket being preferably tapered, as at W, Figs. 1 and 2, for a purpose to be described. A pin 1) passed through the inner end of the core holds it securely in the member B, which is preferably made of wood and of a suitable size and shape to be easily grasped by the hand. The outer end of socket b is surrounded by an internally threaded bushing 6 set into the wood of the handle member, to normally receive a closure b Fig. 1, giving a neat finish and closing the socket b when not in use. The other member A of the handle has a metallic core a extended through it and at its inner end reduced to form a threaded stud a adapted to be screwed into the socket b to thereby rigidly connect the two parts of the handle, the adjacent ends of the members A and B abutting to make a smooth joint.

A pina fixedly connects the core a, and

the surrounding wood of the member A, the a core having a deep longitudinal socket a formed therein, the outer end of the core having a series of longitudinal slits a Figs. 1 and 3, in radial planes extending through the sides of the socket a leaving a series of fingers a inclosing a hexagonal opening. The fingers are externally cylindrical, and are threaded as at a Fig. 1, and tapered at 0. beyond the thread, a collar a having an internal thread screwing on to the thread a and having an internally tapered nose, said collar and the fingers a forming a clutch. By screwing u the collar the fingers are pressed inwar reducing the size of the longitudinal socket a at its outer end.

In Fig. 1 the two-part handle is connected and ready for use, and at such time I insert into the socket a an extension rod 0, hexagonal in cross-section and slidable in the socket, and held in adjusted position by the clutch just described.

By the construction shown and described the extension rod 0 can be clamped firmly and securely without any possibility of its turning in the handle or moving longitudinally therein. The extension rod 0 has one end reduced and screw-threaded, at c, Fig. 1, and tapered at .0 adjacent thereto, for a purpose to be described, the other end of said Patented Jul 7, 1908.

rod having a socket 0 Fig. 2, to fit onto a tuning pin.

Referring to Fig. 1 the hammer head d is made of metal, provided at one end with a lateral, internally threaded socket or hole 01 into which is screwed the end 0 of the extension rod, to connect the head firmly thereto, and at its other end the head is longitudinally socketed, at d and slitted to present fingers d externally threaded at d and tapered at d, a collar d screwing onto the threaded part 61 and having its nose internally tapered, to form-a clutch.

The longitudinal socket d in the end of the head at is preferably made star-sha ed in cross-section, Fig. 4, to more readily 't onto the head lof aituning in, and by means of thelcollar d the effective size of the socket is adjusted to different sizes of pins.

A pin P is shown in Fig. 1, the hammer head being applied thereto to turn the pin and regulate the tension of the string 19. The effective length 01" the handle of the hammer is varied by moving the extension rod (J in or out of the socket c and it a short handle is wanted the handle member B is unscrewed and removed, while the clutch on the head (Z provides for all of the different sizes of tuning pins. hen a T-hammer is required the head (Z is unscrewed from the rod 0, the latter is un clamped and withdrawn from the handle member A, which latter is separated from. the member B, and the threaded end of the rod 0 is inserted in the socket b after removing the closure If, as shown in Fig. 2. The tapered. portion a of the rod fits tightly in the tapered part 7) ol the socket b to hold the rod in place securely, and the T-hammer is complete, with the pin socket c at the outer end oi the rod 0.

I prefer to make the extension rod hexagonal in cross section, in order to enable the clutch to secure a lirm rigid hold upon the rod to ix it in adjusted position in the handle without any possibility of movement, and it will be readily seen. that'there is little or no wear in. the construction herein described. The tapering oil. the red at 0 whereby a tight lit is provided when the rod is inserted in the socket if oil? the handle member B to form a T-h 811111101 obviates the necessity of screwing the rod into such handle member, the triotional. it being amply sul'li cient. The tapered portion 1) of the socket I) is hexagonal in cross-section of course to correspond to the shape of the extension rod. The socket c in the opposite end of the extension rod may be a square hole, or a so-called star-hole, a socket of the latter shape corresponding to the shape of the socket d", see Fig. l.

The cores of the handle members A, B, are

preferably made from solid. brass stock of sullicient strength to meet all requirements in the use or the hammer, the se )arable connection between the two hanc e members rigidly holding the same in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the tool is used as an. ordinary tuning hammer.

It will be manifest that the handle member A may be used in connection with the extension. rod 0 and the head (Z as a short tuning hami'ner, by merely disconnecting the handle member B as it is at times very convenient to use a short handled hammer.

I have combined in the one tool an. ordinary tuning hammer with a handle adjust able in length by reason of the extension rod; a T-hammer, by disconnecting one member of the handle from its fellow, and using the extension red as a head, as shown in Fig. 2, and a short handled hammer is provided by removing the handle member B from its tellow, leaving the latter member A with the extension rod and hammer head.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A tuning hammer comprising a handle having a longitudinally socketed metallic core slitted at its outer end and externally threaded and tapered, a compressing collar mounted thereon, forming with the slitted portion a clutch, the slitted end of the socket being hexagonal in cross-section, a hexagonal extension rod slidable in. the socket and clamped in adjusted position therein by the clutch, the outer end of the rod being threaded, a head having at one end a lateral, threaded hole to receive the threaded end 0] the rod, said head having a polygonal, slitted socket in its other end, to embrace a tuning pin, and means to vary the socket to accmnmodate pins of ditl'erent sizes.

2. A tuning hammer comprising a handle having a longitudinally socketed metallic core slitted at its outer end and externally threaded and tapered, a com pressing collar mounted thereon, forming with the slitted portion a clutch, the slitted end of the socket being hexagonal in cross-section, a hexagonal extension rod slidahle in the socket and clamped in adjusted position therein by the clutch, the outer end of the rod being threaded, a metallic head having at one end a lateral, threaded hole to receive the outer end of the extension rod, and a manually adj ustable clutch on. the other end of the head to embrace tuning pins of difl'erent sizes.

3. A tuning hammer comprising a handle having a longitudinally socketed metallic core slitted at its outer end and externally threaded and tapered, a compressing collar mounted thereon, forming with the slitted portion a clutch, the slitted end of the socket being hexagonal in cross-section, a hexagonal extension rod slidable in the socket and clamped. in adjusted position therein by the clutch, the outer end of the rod being threaded, a metallic head having at one end a lateral, threaded hole to receive the outer end. of the extension red, the other end of the head being externally threaded and tapered and having a slitted, star-shaped socket, to embrace a tuning pin, and a collar on the said end. to compress the socket walls and vary the size of the socket.

l. A tuning hammer comprising a two part, separable handle one member of which. has a longitudinal socket, the other member having a transverse socket substantially midway between its ends, means to rigidly connect said members, an extension rod longitudinally adjustable in. the socket, one end ol the rod having a socket and the other end being threaded, a clutch to hold the rod in adjusted position in the handle a head having at one end a pin pocket and at its other end a lateral, threaded hole to receive the thread ed end of the extension rod, said end of the rod when detached from the head fitting the transverse socket in the second member of the handle when the handle members are disconnected to form aT-hammer.

5. A tuning hammer comprising a handle consisting of two detachably connected members, one having a longitudinal socket therein and a clutch, the other member having a transverse socket, an extension rod having in one end a socket and threaded at its other end, said rod being held in the longitudinal socket of one handle member by the clutch, and a head detachably connected with the threaded end of the rod, the said threaded end entering the transverse socket of the second handle member to form therewith a T- hammer when said handle members are disconnected.

6. A tuning hammer comprising a handle consisting of two detachably connected members, an extension rod longitudinally slidable and adjustable in one of'said members and adapted to form with the other member aT- hammer, one end of the rod having a socket, means on the other end to connect it fixedly with a head when the rod is longitudinally inserted in a handle member, and means to fixedly connect said rod centrally of and at right angles to the. other handle member when disconnected from its fellow, to form the T-hammer.

7. A tuning hammer comprising a handle consisting of two detachably connected members, one having a longitudinal socket therein and a clutch, the other member having a transverse, tapered socket, an extension rod adapted to be clamped by the clutch, said rod being tapered at one end and at its other end having a socket, a head having a socket in one end for a tuning pin, and means to detachably connect the head and the tapered end of the rod, the latter when detached from the head having its tapered end enter the tapered socket in the second handle member, to form therewith aT-hammer.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. P. DOLAN.

Witnesses: JOHN C. EDWARDS,

THoMAs J. DRU'MMOND. 

